U.S. Small Business Administration ( SBA ) Deputy Administrator Fred Hochberg signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU ) June 21 with the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The MOU is intended to increase the participation of lesbian- and gay-owned small businesses in SBA's capital-access, contract procurement and technical assistance programs. A MOU will also be signed with the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Community Centers.
Other SBA officials attended the event, along with local business leaders and representatives from the National Association of Lesbian and Gay Community Centers. The Association agreement has also been signed in New York, California, and Colorado. Linda Malicki, executive director of the Cleveland Gay and Lesbian Service Center and an executive committee member of the National Association, signed the agreement, which was witnessed by Roger Doughty of Chicago's Horizons Community Services and Neil Albrect from the Wisconsin Center. Horizons and Church of the Open Door are the two National Association members from Chicago.
Under the agreement, the SBA will work closely with the groups to disseminate information about SBA's small business assistance programs and services to gay small business owners.
Judith Roussel, District Director of the SBA for Illinois, said she was excited about the working opportunities with gay businesses and the gay community in general. Also addressing the group was SBA Region V Administrator Barbara Notestein.
"The Small Business Administration is absolutely committed to the idea that every citizen deserves an opportunity for full participation in the American dream," said Deputy Administrator Hochberg, who is gay. "This agreement will help us get this message out to the gay and lesbian community that the tools SBA offers are available to anyone with the creativity and determination to use them to build a business."
The Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization representing the interests of the region's lesbian and gay business community. With more than 375 lesbian- and gay-owned and supportive businesses, The Chamber has grown from its founding in 1996 to become the largest lesbigay business group in Chicagoland, and one of the fastest growing business groups—gay or straight.
Representing the Chamber at the signing were Tracy Baim and Kevin Boyer, who were the founding co-chairs of the organization, and Chamber Executive Director Joseph Sprague.
See www.glchamber.org, email or call 1-888-GLCHAMBER.
Call the SBA Illinois District Office at ( 312 ) 353-4528 or visit www.sba.gov .